This Is England: British Film and the People's War, 1939-1945

2
Leaders Leading
The Films: In Which We Serve (1942),Convoy (1940), We Dive at Dawn (1943),The Way to the Stars (1945)

IN WHICH WE SERVE

Synopsis

PROLOGUE: DOCUMENTARY MONTAGE OF A SHIP BEING BUILT; THE SHIP, A
destroyer, at sea; the destroyer being commissioned.

Mediterranean Sea, near Crete, 1941. The destroyer, now HMS Torrin and flagship of a British destroyer flotilla, is in action against
German troopships. Next morning Torrin is attacked by German aircraft and sunk. In the water, the captain, Captain Kinross, "remembers" accepting Torrin from the builders just before the war starts
and going on leave back to his wife and children. A number of survivors, including Kinross, Chief Petty Officer Hardy, and Seaman
Blake, cling to a Carley Float. Hardy "remembers" the last day of his
home leave with his wife and mother-in-law before leaving to join Torrin. His "memories" include Kinross addressing the new crew and
of the hard work in commissioning the vessel for sea duty. War is announced. Further recollections: Christmas services on Torrin; Blake
and his family celebrate Christmas at home; Hardy makes a Christmas dinner speech to his family; Kinross, his wife and children and
others officers and their partners have Christmas dinner in the Torrin's wardroom—each occasion involves a toast to the ship. In the
sea: Germans planes strafe the survivors, wounding Blake. In the
past: Blake meets Freda, Hardy's niece, on a train. They are attracted
to each other, and marry. On the train taking them on honeymoon,

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